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Potential threat at Cookeville High School resolved

A ninth-grade student at Cookeville High School will reportedly undergo a mental evaluation after a fellow student overheard him make a threat to “shoot up the school.”

Director of School Jerry Boyd said the student who claimed to hear the threat reportedly told her parents only after coming home from school, and did not initially contact school administrators. Her parents then contacted police.

“Once we got the information, the administrative team at CHS working with the sheriff’s department acted very quickly and deliberately,” Boyd said. “As to whether or not the student had access to take such action, my understanding was that there was no evidence that that would be the case.”

Boyd said Cookeville High Principal Lane Ward and the administrative staff at the high school reviewed surveillance video that helped officials identify the student who had made the threat.

Then sheriff’s officers went to the student’s home, Boyd said.

Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said the investigation is ongoing.

“An investigation was immediately conducted and the individual who made such statements was identified and proper law enforcement actions were imposed,” he said. “I assure you that these types of threats, whether verbally, via text, or posted on any social media site, will be thoroughly investigated and the individuals properly charged. The safety for our students in Putnam County is a top priority.”

Boyd said the school sent out a message to parents.

“Once we were certain that the individual was located and there was no threat, Mr. Ward initiated a phone call to the homes (of students) just in the event that they saw something on social media.”

The email that went out said that “the student who reported the potential threat had sent a social media message to several students warning them not to come to school on Thursday.”

“We felt it was most important to contact parents directly just to provide a summary of what we knew and what had happened and what the outcome was,” Boyd said. “And really, most importantly, to emphasize that there was no imminent threat to the school and things would proceed as normal.”

Boyd also emphasized the importance of reporting potential threats.

“I was proud of the other student to at least share concerns,” he said.

“Unfortunately, some of those concerns were also expressed on social media before talking with the staff, the CHS admin and law enforcement.”